Have you heard? History repeating itself

Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar

Even though fans expressed their displeasure over the casting of Ranveer Singh as Don, director Farhan Akhtar stood his ground when stating that Singh was the apt choice for the part that was being played by Shah Rukh Khan. In a recent interview, Akhtar shared that Singh experienced a mix of excitement and anxiety when he was offered the role. Fans' sentiment echoed the situation when Khan succeeded Amitabh Bachchan in the role, a development that sparked a similar kind of scepticism. When asked about the qualities that define the character of Don, Akhtar highlighted the importance of self-confidence, flamboyance, and an unwavering determination to accomplish anything.

Did he?

At Gadar 2's press conference in Mumbai, Sunny Deol spoke of his upcoming film, Apne 2, which has been in the making for a while. Fans believed he took a dig at Katrina Kaif while making a reference to the film. "I have the story of Apne 2. Let's see when we manage to start working on it. The script we have is heart-warming. It is about family values, just like Apne was. The sequel will be an extension of it. There were a few actresses who were scared to play a mother on-screen, but they might agree to be a part of the film now." Apne featured Kaif as Bobby Deol's love interest. It also featured Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Kirron Kher.

The irony of the situation

Being an Indian, Grammy winner Ricky Kej says leading the UK's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) for a rendition of Jana Gana Mana was special, as the national anthem has been the most "important piece of music" in his life. Kej shared the video of the national anthem, recorded with a 100-piece British orchestra from the RPO at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, that earned him praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ahead of the collaboration, Kej said the first thought that came to his mind was how the times have changed - a man from a country that the British Empire ruled for over 200 years is now leading their "most in-demand" orchestra, and performing Jana Gana Mana. "It's absolutely in my blood. In India, the minute anybody listens to the first few notes of the national anthem, they find a strong sense of patriotism, love, and pride for their country. I didn't have to work hard to get the passion, it was already there," he added.

Refreshing

She has no regrets about quitting movies at the peak of her career in the '90s and now that she is back with a critically-acclaimed role in the series, Sweet Kaaram Coffee, actor Madhoo says she has a new goal: to work with all her "lines and wrinkles". Known for films such as Roja and Phool Aur Kaante, Madhoo plays a housewife in the Prime Video show that revolves around women belonging to three different generations who embark on a road trip. Veteran actor Lakshmi, Madhoo and Santhy Balachandran star as mother-in-law Sundari, daughter-in-law Kaveri and granddaughter Niveditha in the eight-episode series.

Life is good, says Alia

Amid the criticism she faced for a recently released video, Alia Bhatt called Ranbir Kapoor the person with whom she could be her "truest self." In an ask me anything session held online, Bhatt made the comment while responding to a fan's question about him. Further prodded on how she deals with criticism, Bhatt, inarguably among the most trolled actors on social media, shared, "Constructive criticism is the best way to grow. But words that are meant to hurt you can only hurt, if you let them. No one can take who you are, away from you. Cultivate a life so full of love and gratitude that toxicity wouldn't even reach you." Bhatt was recently criticised for being in a relationship with Kapoor after she mimicked how authoritatively he would tell her to wipe her lipstick off because he "loves the colour of my lips". This incident dates back to when the duo was dating. Fans called his behaviour a "red flag" that she shouldn't have ignored. This isn't the first time that Kapoor has been pulled up by fans for his behaviour towards her.

From the boss

Mohit Raina, who will be seen in the lead role in Neeraj Pandey's riveting thriller series The Freelancer, has heaped praise on his co-star Anupam Kher, saying that he feels lucky to get the opportunity to work with him. "Though Anupam sir is a legend for actors like me, he doesn't like to be called one. Getting to work with him is obviously a great opportunity, and I feel lucky. You always learn from a senior, even just by observing them." The series is based on the book - A Ticket to Syria by Shirish Thorat. The book attempts to share the story of the insidious operations of the Islamic State, and how the terror group has perfected a cross-country operation that converts thousands to a depraved cause.

Birthday wishes

Actor NTR Jr, who is known for RRR, took to his social media to send birthday wishes to actor Saif Ali Khan, while also sharing the poster of Khan from their upcoming film Devara, which marks his Telugu debut. The poster features Khan with long curly hair and thick stubble. It also reveals his character's name: Bhaira. Jr NTR will be reuniting with Koratala Siva for the film after Janatha Garage. Devara is slated to release on April 5, 2024.